MORRISTOWN, TN – Walters State returned to action for the first time in 11 days on Wednesday evening and got back to their winning ways with a 55-39 victory over Cleveland State.
With the win, the Lady Senators improved to 2-2 on the season and 1-1 in TCCAA play.
"It was nice to get a win coming off such a long break," Walters State coach Jasmin Coleman said. "I thought we played solid defensively and did enough on the offensive side. We're just going to keep getting after it in practice and try and continue to get better."
Leading the way for Walters State was Asia Barr with 19 points, six rebounds, five assists and five steals. Along with Barr, Kyra Perkins had 12 points and four steals while Briontanay Marshall had 10 points, six rebounds and four blocks.
Other contributors for Walters State were Kristyna Boyd with six points, eight rebounds and six assists, Tianna Rhodes with five points and three rebounds, Lia Wright with three points and three rebounds and Juilenne Ongbagnamen with four rebounds and four assists.
As a team, the Lady Senators shot 21-56 from the field and made five 3-pointers. Walters State had 33 rebounds and assisted on 19 made shots.
Defensively, Walters State had 16 steals, 15 blocks and forced 23 turnovers. The Lady Senators held Cleveland State to 28% from the field.
The Lady Senators got after it early to start as they scored the first six points of the game. Cleveland State answered with five straight but Marshall and Rhodes scored to make it 10-5. The Lady Cougars scored four straight to cut the lead to one, but Wright hit a 3-pointer and Marshall scored in the final minute to make it 15-9 after one quarter.
In the second, Walters State started strong as they built a 21-9 lead. Cleveland State settled back in and cut it to 23-19 late in the half, but Walters State ended with momentum again as Barr made two free throws and a jumper, Rhodes scored and Boyd made a free throw to make it 31-21 at the break.
In the third quarter, the Lady Senators got after it defensively as they held Cleveland State to eight points. Meanwhile, Barr scored nine of her own and the Lady Senators led 44-29 heading to the fourth.
Walters State closed things out in the fourth with 11 more points, holding Cleveland State to 10. Perkins had five in the final 10 minutes, while Barr knocked in a 3-pointer.
Up Next:
Walters State will be back in action on Saturday as they travel to take on Columbia State. Tip is set for 3 p.m. ET.
Rob Harvey
Walters State Community College
Sports Information Director
Cell: (423) 779-8880
Email: sportsinfo@ws.edu
Website: www.ws.edu/athletics